8B
Wednesday, February 28, 1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Teammates respect eccentric pitcher
Appier has talent out of this world
The Associated Press
HAINES CITY, Fla. — Kevin Appier lists his birthplace as Lancaster, Calif., but teammates insist that he must be from elsewhere in the universe.
"He's Outer Space Bob," said his friend and mentor, fellow Royals right-handed pitcher Mark Gubicza. "He's one of the Jetsons."
Appier was hurtling toward a season of galactic dimensions last season — 11-2 with a 2.04 ERA in his first 14 games — when a bum shoulder aborted the mission. He lost five straight decisions, went on the disabled list and had to settle for 15-10.
The guru for Gubicza and Appier, bullpen coach Guy Hansen, believes that Appier really doesn't know how good he is.
"I think I do," said Appier, 28. "I'm
just incredibly hard on myself. Baseball is one of the things in my life that I'm a perfect ti o n i s t about."
Long after a game is finished, he calls sports
writers in the press box to make sure they understood his quotes. He does that because he is concerned about how he is perceived by teammates and the public.
"It's important to me," Appier said. "I think, 'Oh, what if they look at it from this angle.'"
On the playing field, Appier is working with Hansen as well as with pitching coach Bruce Kison. Hansen scouted Appier, signed him and instructed him in the minors and the majors.
"Everybody knows there's a rela
"He's Outer Space Bob. He's one of the Jetsons."
Mark Gublcza
Royals pitcher
tionship, and I kind of talk Ape Talk that he can relate to." Hansen said. "And I've got some patience with him."
General Manager Herk Robinson said the ebullient, free-spirited Hansen wasn't signed as an Appier baby sitter. He was signed because he's considered an outstanding instructor and would be a complement to the quieter, more meticulous Kison.
"Ape isn't a big conversationalist,"
Hansen said, "Ape's basically in his own world, but you can get into that. I do it because I believe in him as a player. I believe in him as a person, and I've spent a tremendous amount of time with him on occasion."
"The guy's probably just too darn smart," Gubicza said. "He teeters between brilliant and insane."
Despite that, teammates say Appier's dominant stuff sends hitters reeling.
"There isn't a guy on this staff that wouldn't trade for his stuff in a heartbeat," said pitcher Chris Honey.
Most of the game's off-the-wall, odd-guy pitchers have been lefthanders such as Lefty Gomez or Bo Belinsky or Bill Lee or Al Hrabosky. Appier is not one of them.
Gubicza, also an Appier guru, says his friend isn't a goofball, just an eccentric.
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"He is a left-hander trapped in a right-hander's body," said catcher Mike Macfarlane.
TRACK: Relay team victory came as a pleasant surprise for Jayhawks, coach
Continued from Page 1.
Holloway said that she was told this was a temporary spot.
"I said, I'm just glad that I got a chance to run with you guys and help you guys get there, and now it's Carleen's turn to take over from there," she said.
Kansas assistant coach Steve Guyon said that before the relay, Woolheater had a disappointing run in the 1,000-meters and that she was upset.
With Holloway substituting for Roberts, and Woolheater disappointed, the team was not in sync
"We had to have her. She was very important to that relay," Guymon said. "The good thing about Kerri is she's a very team-orientated person, and when she's on a relay team, she runs better."
"All four of them ran very well. It wasn't that one had to do all the work, and the rest of them struggled. To me, it's such fun to watch kids succeed."
Steve Gaymon Kansas assistant track and coach
before the race.
Guymon said he wanted to run in less than 11:30 and knew the team was doing well after Woolheater and Holloway had good runs.
The last two legs were carried by Kloster and Swartz, as Kansas started to break away and win.
"All four of them ran very well. It wasn't that one had to do all the work, and the rest of them struggled," Guymon said. "To me, it's such fun to watch kids succeed. They all did their part."
The Big Eight title was Swartz's first and Kloster's fourth. Each went
on to win one more Big Eight title
— Swartz in the 3,000-meter run and Kloster in the 800-meter run.
"Kristi and I connected together on a relay, and that just made it an sweeter victory." Swartz said.
Swartz said that Guymon had the team prepared, and the race at the national meet should be interesting because they haven't faced competition that has pushed them.
In other track and field news, former Jayhawk Pat Manson won the pole vault competition at the Mobil Invitational national tournament this weekend with a vault of 18 feet, 61/2 inches.
His win at that meet sealed up his Indoor Grand Prix title.
Another Kansas graduate, Scott Huffman, finished third at the Mobil Invitational with a vault of 18 feet, 2 1/2 inches.
Where to Vote... Burge Union (open till 7pm) Kansas Union (open till 7 pm) Strong Hall Robinson Gym Wescoe Hall (3 polling sites)
How To Vote ..
Bring Your Current KU ID
to one of the locations
listed TODAY
from 8 am to 4:30 pm
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